I just bought a 2013 TRD Sport and plan to take it to the OBX a few times a year. I've driven in sand before but this is the first time when I own the vehicle (this is also my first Tacoma/truck).
I know about airing down and the basics of driving in soft/hard sand. Other than that, I'm pretty much a newbie.

Does anyone have any additional tips for prepping the truck, driving and/or cleaning it after use on the beach?

Also, is it 100% necessary to add the undercoating (that the dealer was INSISTING on) with the amount I'd be using it (less than 10x yearly)?

Oregon Inlet is permit access only now and you will need to air-down, so unless you don't mind dropping about $80 for a 3-day pass a cheaper option would be Corolla Beach up north. Sand there is packed and doesn't require airing down or a permit to drive on the beach.

As stated previously... Momentum is your friend, don't be a douche and drive like an ass like some out of state visitors tend to do. As far as recovery devices go, having a tow/snatch, shovel, maxtraxx type of device, hi lift, etc... is always nice to have just in case.

Thanks for the replies. I do have a 4x4 and will be driving up in Corolla.

What sort of cleaning / preventative maintenance do you do after driving on the beach?

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Just leave a zero-carbon foot print (take out what you bring in) as there are no trash cans around any of the beaches. Oh, btw... if you see horses, don't mess with them or local ranger will come down on you hard.

Hose down your truck ASAP once you're off the beach as the sand can and will clog your engine parts and cause damage if not dealt with, the salt water will corrode your undercarriage also. There's a boating yacht parking lot across Oregon Inlet entrance road that has air and water hoses you can air up and wash off the sand after you're done.

What i learned is that if you are in soft sand do not be in Drive. Shift down to 2nd gear and or 3rd gear. If you ride around in 2nd, you will have all the power you need. If you stay in Drive, and start to spin, you truck will start to shift on its own and you will bog and not be able to get up the hill or get stuck. Believe me, this helps. If you stay in 2nd you will be amazed how much better your truck handles.

ATO front skid (need more but icon's might fail if I hang anything else from my truck) All-Pro front bumper thanks to a good deal here and a pesky encounter with a rock or 20, total chaos uppers.

To out and get a cheap sprinkler and stick it under the truck after you get back. Just move it from the front to the back and you should be good. Sand likes to find places to hide so try using gust the hose in the wheel wells and by both bumpers. Have not been to the obx in years but did grow up in the area. Just make sure to start in 4x4 and speed is your friend! ( within reason as the rangers will write speeding tickets if your unsafe). Sucks to hear they charge to drive on the beach now.. So many empty waves were accessible by 4x4! I kind of miss the open beach breaks.
Have fun!
Edit: I would advise against even trying 2wd. The east coast sand is quite a bit different than we have out here so unless things have changed I wouldn't even think about it. Long ago I use to accept donations for pulling out stuck tourists. Was a great way to pay for gas!

Just leave a zero-carbon foot print (take out what you bring in) as there are no trash cans around any of the beaches. Oh, btw... if you see horses, don't mess with them or local ranger will come down on you hard.

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That's a good tip for everyone! I have spent many, many years on the beaches in OBX and NEVER leave trash - I wish others were as careful.

To out and get a cheep sprinkler and stick it under the truck after you get back. Just move it from the front to the back and you should be good. Sand likes to find places to hide so try using gust the hose in the wheel wells and by both bumpers.

Thanks for the replies. I do have a 4x4 and will be driving up in Corolla.

What sort of cleaning / preventative maintenance do you do after driving on the beach?

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After each day I give it just a regular hose rinse-down, like ghostrid3r says. I also do a full rinse down at a power-wash station after each trip. I make sure to hit all of the openings in the frame until the drain holes stop spitting sand. The skid plate and spare tire hold bigger things like shells, rocks, etc. - hit those for a bit too. Occasionally, I will spray the "wax" coating on the under-carriage to prevent more things from sticking.

If you are looking at undercoating, make sure you are careful, or the shop you take it to is careful. I've heard this a thousand times: "All it takes is one grain of wet sand to corrode a hole you can't see behind that undercoat." I don't know how much of an issue you might actually get, but take any advice with a grain of salt, or in this case sand.

Some of the required gear list from my nearest beach (Assateague Island) is:
- A shovel with a blade at least 6" square and at least 18" long.
- A vehicle jack sufficient to lift one wheel clear of the sand.
- A jack support that is at least 12"x12" of non-bending steel, 5/8" plywood or 1½" hardwood.
- A tire gauge with a minimum reading of 15 pounds or less. (I use tire buddies to air down quickly)
- A tow rope or tow strap, chain or cable with a minimum pulling strength of 6,000 pounds and at least 10 feet long.

I carry WD-40 to spray on any engine parts that might get wet with saltwater, and a couple of 4' long 2x6 boards for traction too.

Some of the required gear list from my nearest beach (Assateague Island) is:
- A shovel with a blade at least 6" square and at least 18" long.
- A vehicle jack sufficient to lift one wheel clear of the sand.
- A jack support that is at least 12"x12" of non-bending steel, 5/8" plywood or 1½" hardwood.
- A tire gauge with a minimum reading of 15 pounds or less. (I use tire buddies to air down quickly)
- A tow rope or tow strap, chain or cable with a minimum pulling strength of 6,000 pounds and at least 10 feet long.

I carry WD-40 to spray on any engine parts that might get wet with saltwater, and a couple of 4' long 2x6 boards for traction too.

I'm not readn all that crap..but-YES! RINSE RINSE AND RINSE AGAIN! power spray in every frame hole u see, wheel wells...under hood, everywhere! My dbl 08 4x4 pulled full size chevys stuck in the sand many times in 4x4...I never bothered to air dwn. u will hav NO probs crusin beach SLOW in 4x4 if ur worried. study the proper way to use ur lower gears/lockn diff/4x4 and use it, thats what we paid all tht extra $ for ALWAYS have jumper cables, and a 2 long tow straps on you at the beach...you'll likely make some $ pullin dummies out.
I made it through a few beach visits and living 5 miles from it in TX, and my first 2 snowy Ohio winters here with NO salt protection and I don't have a bit of rust yet...I just rinse the hell outta my truck immediately afterwards till it all runs clear.
This year though 4 snow/salt, I'm prolly gonna get some sorta rhino style undercoating to b safe....depending on what I read on here...otherwise I guess you 'oil spray' it (u can use dirty old oil) and they go play on a dirt road so it all cakes up n dries on there making a nice coating to get you through winter